We are pleased to offer three pre-conference institutes at the 2026 AAHHE Conference. Please view the details below.
 *Please note that these pre-conference institutes are separate events.

Registration for the conference and pre-conference events is now open!

Register Here for the Pre-Conference Sessions
Register Here for the Main Conference

Please note that registration for the main conference and the pre-conference sessions are under two different registration forms. Registering for a pre-conference session does not automatically register you for the main conference.

The Latino Student Success Institute (LSSI)

March 27, 2026, 8:30am-11:30am PDT
In-person pre-conference session 

Presenters:

Dr. Azuri Gonzalez, Director of Partnerships and Operations, UTEP Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success
Dr. Jesus Cisneros, Department Chair, Associate Professor and Doctoral Program Director, UTEP Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations
Dr. Erin Doran, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Foundations, UTEP UT Regents' Excellence Program
Jennifer (Jenna) Lujan, M.Ed., Director, UTEP Center for Community Engagement

Description

As Hispanics are the nation’s second-largest racial and ethnic population, supporting their success in higher education is critical to the future of the workforce, regional economies, and institutional effectiveness. This Institute brings together a nationally engaged group of scholars and higher education administrators from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a leading Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), to share research-informed strategies and institutional practices that advance Hispanic student success. 

Drawing on UTEP’s experience as an HSI, the Institute will explore how institutions translate knowledge into action through intentional design, leadership, and campus-wide practices that support student progress and achievement. Participants will examine approaches grounded in Hispanic-Servingness and discuss how these strategies can be adapted across different institutional contexts.

Through collaborative learning and discussion, participants will leave the Institute with:

• Concrete examples of effective HSI-aligned practices
• Frameworks for strengthening institutional support for Hispanic students
• Practical insights they can apply to policy, programs, and leadership decisions on their own campuses

AAHHE Latina Leadership Institute (LLI)
Latina Leaders: Thriving on the Empowerment Journey

March 27, 2026, 8:30am-11:30am PDT
In-person pre-conference session

Presenters

Patricia Arredondo, EdD, President, Arredondo Advisory Group, Past Chair, AAHHE
Azara Santiago Rivera, PhD, Professor Emerita, Merrimack College, Consultant, Past Chair, AAHHE

Description

This pre-conference Institute centers on the unique assets of and opportunities for early- and mid- career Latina leaders in higher education. Discussion will be grounded in the cultural competency framework of self-awareness, knowledge-building, and skill sets for empowered practices. Topics include recognizing dimensions of intersecting identities as assets and challenges in work settings, the Mujerista mindset, cultural clashes in predominantly white institutions, and a roadmap for one’s continuing empowerment journey. This institute will be highly interactive, drawing upon individuals’ experiences to share lessons learned.

Objectives

1. Apply a cultural competency framework for one’s personal journey.
2. Define terms relevant to the empowerment journey (i.e., empowerment, Mujerista, and “entre fronteras”).
3. Identify dimensions of intersecting identities that are workplace assets and those that are marginalized.
4. Share culture clashes in the workplace and how these may reflect “entre fronteras” experiences, and how one manages these.
5. Conduct a self-assessment to identify areas of strength and power gaps for one’s roadmap.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify 2 specific strategies to capitalize on strengths in their leadership role.
2. Identify 2-3 power gaps and specific ways to address them.
3. Identify 2-3 effective ways of incorporating Mujerista mindset principles in their leadership role.
4. Develop a roadmap with priorities for thriving on one’s continuing empowerment journey.

AAHHE Community College Institute (CCI)
From Data to Practice: Equity-Focused Approaches to Retention, Transfer, and Workforce Development in Community Colleges

March 27, 2026, 8:30am-11:30am PDT
In-person pre-conference session 

Moderators: 

Mike Muñoz, EdD, Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College & President in Residence for Excelencia in Education, Long Beach City College
Laura Ramírez, EdD, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction, Pasadena Area Community College District

Presenters: 

Sandra Sanchez, Senior Advisor, LA Rebuild, California Community College Chancellor's Office

Description

Objectives

1. Critically examine equity-centered data practices that illuminate the strengths, aspirations, and educational journeys of Latiné students, moving beyond deficit-based narratives to inform student success strategies.

2. Highlight institutional practices, partnerships, and policies that have demonstrated success in improving retention, transfer, and workforce outcomes for racially minoritized students in community colleges.

3. Facilitate collaborative dialogue among practitioners and scholars to co-create actionable strategies that bridge research and practice, fostering more just and inclusive educational environments.

Guiding Questions for Presenters:

• How did you design and implement your practice? What data sources and equity metrics informed your approach to supporting students?
• Which individuals, departments, or community partners needed to be engaged to move this work forward, and how did you foster collaboration?
• What challenges did you encounter, and how did you navigate them? Reflect on the barriers that emerged, and share the strategies or mindsets that helped you persist and adapt.

Schedule